Chapter 13: The Elder

Three beings gathered around the table in the upper rooms of the Blood Bath in Schema on the Isle of Atlantis. They silently regarded each other and tested their powers against each other. They all seemed to be of the same power that meant that there was an Elder still alive. From their own experiences, they knew that the Elder would eventually appear and assume control of their lair.

They had all been underground during the Elven Rampage as they began to call the extermination of their kind. Suddenly, the metaphysical realm began to ripple and from a doorway from another dimension a portal appeared and the Elder stepped through.

The three lesser beings bowed from their waist, acknowledging their Master’s power and that they would be willing to live under his rule of the lair. The Elder waved his hand and the room became soundproof.

His voice rumbled out, “Well, this is all that remains of our race,” he lied to them, but decided that they did not need to know all at the moment.

The three standing nodded their heads not saying a word. “Since I am the Elder, there are going to be new rules in which will govern our Lairs from now on and the most important one is that, no one, but an Elder will turn a human or They of the Light.”

“The next item is that there will be no killing of humans by draining all their blood. We will have acolytes from now on—a fan club if you must. I have studied Schema and these humans love their games so let’s play their games and win.”

“Your idea of this “bar” is brilliant. We will use our acolytes to drink from and replace their memories of erotic sex and love of music instead of us feasting on their necks.”

“Furthermore, there will be only one such club in Schema. We will not branch out to any other city in Atlantis. This is our home base. We will develop a business the business of pirates, stealing legitimate cargo and selling in the “black market” here in Atlantis,” holding up his hand, the Elder continued, “I know there is no organized “black market” here, but we will change that.”

“Now to the last, I want a written history of Us so that if we eventually die out someone will know the truth of Those That Are in the Light.”

“Ofren I sense that you enjoy literature, writing and the arts, you will record our history, from Our perspective. You may start with the First Elder to Me. You will write of our nemesis, Atlantis de El’a, our enemy and her family. Be sure that our children’s children for eternity will know who and what she looks like so that she and hers may be hunted until death.

The lesser beings nodded their head agreeing to the new rules that would govern their kind from henceforth.

The Elder looked at the only members of his Lair and said, “We will do selective breeding and from now on, only those chosen for that purpose will breed. I am studying the best kinds of humans and Those That Are in the Light to turn and to successfully breed.”

“As you all know, the only thing that saved us was the fact that we took to the ground as the ancients told us to do while in our regenerative state. The sun could not touch us as we were in the soil. Henceforth, our race shall sleep as our ancients used to in the ground. No one will be allowed to sleep above ground and if I catch you doing it I’ll end your life before you wake. I will not have our race decimated as it almost happened this human year.”

“You will keep your sleeping quarters secret from others in your lair and humans alike. Most humans are like sheep they do as they are told and most if banded together in a “cause” form a mob and their blood lust is high, rumors of this human year will spread and humans will be afraid, they will believe in the rumors and as most rumors go, they turn to fiction very quickly, but that story remains and becomes myth and then fades in to legend.”

“However, the most dangerous humans are those that believe in myth and track it down. It will be these humans who will try to find us, but we must be prepared, because I will not be killed by humans turned fanatics while I sleep.”

Glaring at the members of his lair, he sliced open his wrist and allowed his blood to drain into a cup, he healed his arm and handed the cup around. The males drank his blood and he felt their communication channels open and snap into place, he blocked the metaphysical pathway to his own mind from his followers; they would never be privileged to be able to read his mind.

Now he would know what they knew instantly and in some cases before they did what they were thinking.

Nodding to his pitiful lair, he said, “I’ll be back from time to time to see how you all are fairing. I will keep my eye on you through our new connection.” Opening a portal, the Elder vanished from sight.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted June 2008 by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 16: Ascension

The Elven Nation gathered in the Grove of Assembly. Their faces drawn in pain at the loss of their leader, Isolade stood in front as felt through the Elements that every male and female elf was present.  She shook the bag that the runes were in and tossed them into the air as they remained suspended, she read them, “Our new leader is Hadrese O’lin.”

Hadrese froze in place, she felt her son being lifted from her arms by Dorn. Walking unsteadily forward to stand in front of their mage, Isolade she raised her arms and said, “As it has been, it will be again, we ask the Elements to bless the Ascension of Hadrese O’lin.”

Hadrese felt cold and heat race around her body, then she felt a wall of water tumble down around her. Last, she felt a wind blowing against her. Inherently, she bowed into the wind and remained in her spot. The wind changed and became a breeze. When the breeze washed over her, she stood and opened her eyes.  Isolade began a chant, “Evid hostno veet’e asc’n showen.”

Hadrese felt an object in her right hand. Surprised that it was burning her hand, she looked down. The more she felt the urge to drop it harder she clung to it. Then it disappeared. Opening her hand, she saw the Imperial Ascension mark on the palm of her hand. It was a circle and within the circle were the four signs for the Elements two squiggly lines for water, two straight lines for air, a falling ball of fire and four curved lines for wind, against the backdrop of soil.

“You have been blessed by the Elements you are truly Queen of the Elves.” Isolade held out both of her hands a globe settled into her palms. She extended it to Hadrese saying, “Here are the symbols of your Ascension. Rule with a strong hand and a soft heart. Rule wisely and live long.”

When Hadrese accepted the orbs, power surged through their veins like she had never felt before; she now had sway over the elements. Hadrese felt the collective knowledge of every Elven King or Queen flooded her conscience mind. The weight of responsibility for her children rested heavily upon her. All the secrets kept by the Elven leaders over the millennia’s were revealed to her. Bracing her body, Hadrese forced herself to remain standing before her Clan. She was of every Clan and no Clan at the same time. She felt love for her Clans grow in her heart.

Twa revealed himself to Hadrese, bowed low, and pledged, “I, Twa of the Elementals pledge my service to you Queen Hadrese for as long as you live.”

Hadrese stared at Twa, surprised at his pledge. “I accept your pledge, Twa of the Elementals.”

Slowly Hadrese turned to face the Clans, she held up her hand, revealing the Ascension Symbol nestled in her palm. “I will hold you all in the palm of my hand cradling you to my heart with joy and love. I am your servant, guide, and protector. I pledge to you this day, that until the day I pass, my life will be dedicated to the betterment of our Clans.”

The collective shouts of rule wisely and live long resounded around the Grove of Assembly as the Elves cheered for their leader.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted August 2008 by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 15: Passing of a King

Dorn was sitting in the monthly family council grinding his teeth. He was furious even after all these centuries, his uncle; Hap’shen refused to acknowledge Atlantis as a full blood relative. He had been at odds with Hap’shen for as many centuries as Atlantis was alive. The Elven Clans no matter who raised the Wee Ones always recognized their blood, however, Dorn was beginning to believe that Hap’shen was suffering from the Darkening and hence his refusal to acknowledge Atlantis du El’a as one of their own.

An even more disturbing idea to Dorn was that if Atlantis was fully recognized would displace Hap’shen was leader because the leader of the Clans was the person with the most powerful magic and that would be Atlantis for the Sky Elves, but she was disinherited, making Hap’shen the most magically powerful Sky Elf.

Silence descended on the gathering and Dorn was pulled from his thoughts realizing that he was asked a question that he had no recollection of what that question was, “I am sorry Uncle, I was not paying attention, what was the question?”

Glaring at his nephew, Hap’shen said, “What did Atlantis want to see the King about?”

“I have no idea.”

Hap’shen glared at his nephew, but knew he was telling the truth as he used a truth spell at the beginning of all family councils so he would spot those who didn’t speak the truth. He also knew that to ask Dorn to find out what it was about would be ignored, so he didn’t bother.

Suddenly the meeting was interrupted by Rowen and four Elementals and encircled within their ranks was none other then Atlantis.

Rowen unrolled a scroll and read the King’s dictates, “By order of King Borlan, The Sky Elves are to formally recognize Atlantis du El’a as part of your Clan. You cannot deny the light blue skin, hair, eyes, and the identifying tattoo she carries identifying her as a Sky Elf. The wrongness of her familial situation will end immediately.”

Atlantis had received the shock of her life, when Rowan had appeared and shown her the Kings proclamation that was to be read to her Clan. She had come as ordered by the King or else she would have not bothered attending.

The moment she had transported with Rowen and his Elementals into the room that the Sky Elves had been using for their meeting, she sensed a Dark Elf, knowing that she could not kill this Elf without proof, she fashioned a cage of fire and enveloped their leader and her half-uncle Hap’shen.

“What is the meaning of this?” demanded Hap’shen.

Stepping around the Elementals, Atlantis said, “On this day I accuse you Hap’shen of being a Dark Elf.”

A gasp of horror arose from the ranks of her Clan. “Lies!” screamed Hap’shen.

“No not lies, Hap-shen.” Atlantis seared his skin using the fire that caged him and he screamed, immediately his fangs grew long as he needed blood to heal the burn on his arm.

A cry arose from her Clan members as his fangs appeared. Hap-shen knew that he should have left the Elves many decades before, but he had been so sure that he would never be caught as long as he kept his distance from Atlantis, never dreaming the King would enforce familial recognition.

Standing in the cage of fire, Hap-shen glared at Atlantis. Shifting his gaze to the entrance of King Borlan, Hap-shen glared at the Elf who was responsible for his soon demise.

He had been the Elf who was kept the pulse of the Elven Nation under his thumb, turning to the Darkness those whom his Master’s indicated, he had served them many years, and they were going to feed him to the mortal enemy, Atlantis.

King Borlan looked sadly upon his subject, and said, “I find you guilty of having in your possession the Darkening. Your sentence is death to be carried out immediately.”

Upon hearing the pronouncement of her King, Atlantis allowed the fire cage to consume her half-uncle. He screamed briefly and turned to ash.

Glaring at the remaining Sky Elves, King Borlan said, “Are there any amongst you who would continue to deny Atlantis du El’a her rightful place in her Clan?”

Dorn spoke up and said, “I, Dorn du Nuven, acknowledge Atlantis du El’a as a member of the Clan, Sky Elf.”

After formal pronouncement Dorn stood, the entire de Nuven family stood, some had tears streaming down their faces, they were honoring their fallen hero, who was Atlantis’s father. All the other clan representatives stood as one and said the formal words welcoming Atlantis to Clan.

Atlantis felt the bonds of Clan for the first time in her life. Her Clan gifted her, silently she wept, she now had family ties and finally she did not have to hide her friendship with Dorn. She went to Dorn and formally said, “I, Atlantis du El’a accept the gift of Clan Sky Elf.”

Magic snapped around the room and the mantle of responsibility fell to Atlantis. The collective knowledge of Clan Sky Elf was revealed to her in an instant both the achievements and failures.

Suddenly the Sky Elves surrounded her giving her hugs and kisses, embracing her. Those who were old enough to remember her parents commented that she was a du Ela’a and it was a shame they could not acknowledge it before today.

Suddenly Oberon appeared at her side. Atlantis said, “I formally introduce one of my two Life’s Mates, Oberon O’Lin and Tajor Van of the Clan Water Elf.” Atlantis turned when she felt the cooling magic of the Forest Elves. She ran to the Father of her Heart and hugged him and the Mother of her Heart. Tears were in their eyes and they were so happy for the Daughter of their Heart. Pulling back and holding each of their hands, announced to the gathering, “I am pleased to present, my Father and Mother of My Heart, by Blood Right they raised and loved me as their own.”

A wizen Elf came forward and took the hands of Jad’n Hout and Dras’n Tr and whispered, “I can go beyond and give a good report of the Clan Forest Elf and finally of Clan Sky Elf.” Using the last of his magic, he sent a Seeing and Gift to Atlantis and went beyond.

Atlantis was hit with the most vivid Seeing she had ever heard of, the Elf was her Grandpere on her Mother’s side. On the day she was born, Nislen du El’a had sent him the powers left to her by her Mate, who was an Elemental, with instructions that he was to keep the powers until the day that Atlantis was gifted.

Raw power surged in her veins as the Gift of the Elementals raced through her blood. Her blue eyes swirled with fire, earth, wind, sky, and water hers to command at her will. Turning her head to Rowen, he nodded to her, acknowledging the gift. She was now accepted into his sessions as the Master of Elements. She would be able to hone her powers under his direction.

The mantle of responsibility stuck to her shoulders becoming oppressive as one of her Clan was in dire need. Sending a soft wiff of magic across the wind she saw the Sky Elf in question and seizing her body she defeated the Dark Elves that has surrounded her and then Atlantis teleported the Elf home.

Riyen de Nov’l had been sent on a fool’s errand she decided when she saw the Werekin blocking her path. She knew she was facing her ultimate death. She blinked and looked around and the Dark Elves were not where to be seen and she was suddenly in the Clan hall where family meetings were conducted. She looked around for Hap’shen and was relieved to find him gone.

Turning to the person who had saved her life, she beheld Atlantis of the Forest Elves. Riyen tasted the magic swirling in the meeting room and discovered that her Clan finally recognized Atlantis as a Sky Elf.

“How did you come to be on that path?” asked Atlantis.

“Where is our previous leader?”

“Gone.”

Nodding Riyen said, “He sent me there and told me to wait and what I needed to know would be revealed. I was to be dinner for That Which Cannot Be Spoken Of.”

Atlantis closed her eyes in horror at the abuse of power and listened to Riyen as she continued, “I was investigating the disappearance of my sister and brother and our former leader learned of it and said that if I went to that spot, I would know what happened. He was right; my siblings met their death in a very ugly and untimely manner.”

Atlantis sent the memories of Clan to those who needed closure for those missing family members Hap’shen had killed so many of their numbers by feeding the Darkening and those who had it. As her Clan viewed her Seeing, a gasp of horror rose from the ranks of Sky Elves as they learned of the deprivation of their former leader. Eyes narrowing, they listened to Atlantis speak to their King: “Your Majesty, for the last five centuries, the former leader of the Sky Elves have been turning members of various Clans into Werekin, some are now dead, but there is one alive in each clan, I now am in possession of their names, shall I cage them as I did my half-uncle?”

“Yes!”

Atlantis closed her eyes and called on fire, and caged five other elves within its bonds. She held out her hand to the King and then transported them both to each elf that was being held. She burned each one with the fire, after seeing the fangs grow; King Borlan pronounced the death sentence upon them all. After the final elf met his death, Atlantis kept the king’s hand in hers and using a telepathic channel said to him, “Your Majesty, you are in great danger my Lord, I sense the Darkening gathering around you and your Mate. You both must walk into the Beyond before it’s too late.”

The King replied on the same telepathic channel, “I have sent for Isolade. Upon my passing, she will cast the runes and a new leader will be chosen, please be a guide to whomever the Elements bequest this responsibility.”

Atlantis turned with sad eyes, and said, “I will.”

The King nodded and disengaged his hand from Atlantis’s grasp and said, “Good bye my dear, I will convey to those that have gone before, that you are a tribute to their future and that of the Clans.”

Tears gathered in her eyes at the words of her King and she nodded and whispered, “Good bye your Majesty.”

King Borlan teleported himself to his private rooms, his Mate was standing at their window looking out to the gardens. Isolade was sitting quietly in the corner chair. Walking to his Mate, he sent a Seeing and final Gifting to his daughter Hadrese, and vanished to the Beyond. King Borlan’s Mate, also sent a Seeing and Gifting to his daughter Hadrese and went Beyond.

Hadrese was holding her son when the Seeing from her Father tears streamed down her cheeks, as she beheld the final minutes of his life, and that of his Mate. They both had gifted her with their powers and she felt the serge of magic in her blood.

A proclamation went out to all the Elves, announcing the passing of their Beloved King and his Mate. Isolade called for all Elves to gather in the grove immediately for the Choosing.

© All Rights Reserved. August 2008 by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 14: Werekin

Ofren looked around at his blood brothers and sighed, “I guess I have a lot to do.”

“Yes you do,” agreed Lisand’r, “and since it was my brilliant idea to open this “club” I am going to run it.”

Ofren nodded, and looked at J’yan, “I guess that you are going to be a pirate. Good luck with that one, Old Man!”

“That’s quite all right first we have to recruit our fan club and from there we can see if they have any of the poor element and then recruit them and then enslave them.”

“Just make sure that you don’t turn them, as you know enslaving a human is almost akin to turning them and that’s against the new rules,” sniped Lisand’r.

J’yan laughed a deep evil laugh and said, “I guess you would be pissed off as you wanted to change that human.”

Lisand’r glared at J’yan, but did not bother to correct his assumption of why he was peeved.

Ofren shook his head and vanished to his personal lair. He settled in, turned on his Komterminal, and began recording the history of the They That Cannot Be Spoken of.

His hands hovered over the keys thinking about how he was going to begin the history of his race. He began typing: Elves. We are elves. Our ancestors crashed into a primitive planet called Terra Firma, but the indigenous people call the planet earth. We were exploring the outer reaches of the galaxy when our spaceship crashed into Terra Firma due to the malfunction of one of the coils or so we were told. However, several millennia ago, our original Elder, Paladin discovered the truth.

The real truth was that it was sabotage due to fight between the seer Isolade who was very young and just starting out on her life’s journey and the Elven King’s son, Baranthe. Baranthe wanted to stop and conqueror the local population of Terra Firma and Isolade said no. We were under direct orders from our King to only chart a course through the stars so that this region of space would be marked for those of us who would come later.

The local indigenous populations called Homo sapiens or humans were so primitive that the “gods” who inhabited the earth ruled the ignorant with an iron fist and the enslaved people did not even recognize their enslavement because it was disguised by something odd called beliefs or religion. This concept was new for the Elves, an interesting way of thinking, but still mindboggling to a race who lives for thousands of earth years.

Baranthe was adamant that the Elven research teams stop and conqueror this part of space. While descending through the stratosphere Isolade yanked a crystal out of the main engine and our spacecraft crash landed. Baranthe was killed in that crash, and so our lives changed forever, we discovered immediately that the Arcadian rhythms of this planet enhanced our natural ability to communicate with thought and our ability to cloak ourselves in invisibility.

The remaining people on the research team decided that they would hide the wreckage from the local human population and we set ourselves up to become the protectors to the humans who wanted a safe harbor from the real oppressors of this earth.

Another problem of crashing onto Terra Firma was the Elves also developed a side effect that we began calling the Darkening. This Darkening was described by our ancestors as a blood lust brought on by ignoring our Life Joining to our Mates.

At first those touched with the Darkening were only banished. For many centuries Elves were unaware of the extent to the Darkening. In the meantime, we set up our society as our civilization was arranged on our home planet, and has no human word that can describe the name of our planet, but in the Elven tongue is Pulchraeum. On Terra Firma we are just called Feyfolke.

Pulcharaeum is found in the Eridani Galaxy, millions of light years from this planet. Isolade chose for us using a Seeing our new ruler, who was an Elven female whose name was Ardonia. She learned the truth of our “crash” onto this planet and had it written down so if our race died here a history would be available if any explorers from Pulcharaeum found it.

Instead Paladin found it. He was furious over his discovery and was one of the first banished, but he did not stay in exile. He kept coming back talking to other Elves telling them the truth about the crash. Some chose to stay with what we know refer to is They of the Light and others chose the Darkening. A side note in this history is that rumor has it that Paladin still lives, but this had never been confirmed.

Paladin made sure that the Elves with the Darkening were kept apart from the Light Elves and the humans. However, our need for blood in order to live made it impossible to keep distant from the humans as they are our food source. Unfortunately, it was our thirst for more power that led to our downfall. One of the Elves with the Darkening decided to try to turn another being with powers, their race called them the Titans. They went crazy after they were bitten and had to be slain by the god Zeus. Who was furious that their pantheon was so interfered with he visited our King at the time and demanded we be killed.

Since Paladin had kept the Elves with the Darkening separate from the Elves that were in the Light, the Light Elves denied that they had to do anything about the problem of the Dark Elves. However, Zeus took our King to where we lived at pointed out to him the problem. Letting him see for the first time how we fed on human blood to keep alive.

The Elven King Borlein formed the Death Squad’s and infused them with additional magic so that they could kill us. Paladin was visiting the Light Elves when these squads were first being formed. He returned to our lairs and informed the Dark Elves that the Death Squads were on their way, and shared with them the secret to survival, and to this day we call the Grounding. It is where Dark Elves go into the earth away from the sun light and in secret to any human or other Dark Elf and stay there until danger or the daylight passes. As our weakness is the sunlight to which we have an allergy.

The Dark Elves boasted that no Light Elf would get the better of them and they would meet the Death Squads head on in battle and kill them all. Paladin said that he would never see them again. Paladin was right they were gone when we came back from being underground. All that remained was ashen dust on the crust of the earth, soon to be blown away by the wind and seen no more.

The Death Squads returned to King Borlein and reported that the Dark Elves were no more. The Light Elves began calling us They Which Cannot Be Spoken Of, which amused Paladin to no end and began calling the Light Elves, They of the Light. The stories that my father told me was that Paladin would laugh hysterically when he called the Light Elves, They of the Light. The my Father would mutter that Paladin was loosing his mind.

Paladin ruled with an iron fist and was known for his thrifty way of killing Dark Elves who broke his rules. His rules were simple; no turning of any being that had magical ability and especially no gods from any of the other Parthenon’s on Terra Firma. No turning of human women or Light Elves without his consent and no killing of any food source. We could give the food sources memories either good or bad, but to leave them alive and basically unharmed.

We began turning up in the writings of the humans on Terra Firma. They called us the Nightmare, the Night Frights, the Terrors, the Frights, the Horrors, the Terribles, and the Dreaded. Mother’s instilled obedience in their offspring with stories of our kind. We settled in a mountainous region of the earth that was famous for its fog, and windy gorges. We called this region Dacia and settled there enticing our followers to settle on the valleys and thus we would have a constant food source.

As visitors passed through the villages surrounding our mountain lairs, we learned of an Island called Atlantis whose human population seemed to have advanced technology and some of us volunteered to scout out the area. The group that was sent out was our current Elder, whose name we did not know then or now, Lisand’r, J’yan, and I. We never returned to the mountains. We remained in Atlantis because the rumors were correct, the Atlanteans were the most advanced technologically on earth, how this these humans became that way is a mystery that has remained unsolved to this day.

After scouting all the cities of Atlantis, we chose Schema because of the depravity of these beings in this city surpasses even the darkest of the Dark Elves. It was many years before we felt any Elves. There is a half-breed Elf living somewhere in Atlantis, but we have never been successful in tracing him, and eventually gave up. Periodically we feel this Light Elf, but he disappears before we can find him. Perhaps his brain does not work as ours because he is half human.

They of the Light believe they are better then us because “They” claim to have resisted the urge of the Darkening, however, what They of the Light refuse to accept is that since this planet’s rhythms are different then our home planet, we all are infused with this Darkening. The Light Elves that are close to changing we can sense this and we monitor them. The closest any Light Elf has come to the Darkening and then stayed in the Light was one Sky Elf called Atlantis de El’a, whose would eventually become our The Mortal Enemy of our race.

Atlantis was born of two Hunters who died while fighting Dark Elves in Schema. I and my Blood Brothers did not know that these Dark Elves were in Atlantis until the battle was engaged and we all went immediately to ground and waited until the Light Elves had died and one had left, mortally wounded.

Our Elder went to where the Light Elves lived to see what the child of the de El’a Elf was like and he returned to say that her magic was incredibly powerful. It would be four centuries later that we found out just how powerful Atlantis’s magic truly was, she single-handedly killed all but my lair of Dark Elves and that is because we always go to the Grounding when we sleep.

We felt our brethren cry out in agony while they died by exposure to the earth’s sun. Atlantis by pulling the sun from its orbit, caused this planet to tilt on its axis and so began an ice age that I am sure many humans will not survive, but the Atlanteans seemed to be thriving.

The physical description of our Mortal Enemy is that this female is a Sky Elf. This Clan within the Clans of Light Elves is the lightest blue that you find a balmy summer day. She has long blue hair, her eyes are so light blue that they are almost grey, but not quite, she is six feet, eleven inches tall with no shoes, if she chooses to wear the human affliction called shoes, then she can be well over seven and a half feet tall as she seems to love the highness of the shoes.

My Blood Brothers and I want vengeance against her and it is imperative that Dark Elves as long as they exist must hunt this female down and kill her and her offspring at all costs to self.

It has been two human years since the Massacre of my race. On the Terrible Day Atlantis gave birth to twins, one twin sacrificed her life so that her sister could live. An Elemental almost gave his life so that Atlantis could live. Rumor has it that he survived and is awake again. The daughter Atlantis bore, is more powerful in her magic then her parent. This is not good for those who remain of my race.

Ofren stopped typing and reread what he had written and was satisfied that it was a good start for the history of the Dark Elves.

A portal opened and the Elder stepped through. “Busy I see.”

“Yes Master.”

The Elder leaned back against the wall and wondered how long it would take Ofren to realize that he was in his personal lair.

Shock spread across Ofren’s face, “Master, how did you know where I sleep? I make sure that no one knows of this place.”

Smiling at the Elf’s shocked face, the Elder said, “For centuries you have felt aroused while in my presence. I thought it was time to claim you for my Lifemate.”

“You feel that too?”

“I have always known that you were my Life’s Mate, but I had to allow you to grow and mature before placing a claim upon you.”

Ofren smiled as his eyes closed in relief, now he would not have to try to hide his emotions of this Elf any longer.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted July 2008 by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 12: Waiting

King Borlan turned away from where Atlantis had stood, gazing out the window and unseeing at the forest below him. Shuddering he thought, three Werekin had survived the killing fields consumed the rest of the evil and were somewhere on Terra Firma.

He summoned by thought the captain of the death squad that served as his justice. He stared at the Captain and told him by thought of the situation and the need for secrecy and stealth. The Captain nodded and left his King.

A knock sounded at his door; glancing out the window, he knew it was his daughter and his grandchild. “Enter!”

Hadrese smiled at her Father and said, “Here you go our Little One is anxious to see you!”

Grinning at the Wee One, the King scooped him up in his arms and gave him a hug and kisses.

Watching her Father with her son, Hadrese looked closely, noticed that the lines on His face were deep, and realized that whatever Atlantis had said to him aged him several decades.

The King put the boy down and crouched down beside him and sat cross-legged next to him, glancing up at Hadrese he said, “May I keep him for awhile my Daughter?”

Smiling Hadrese nodded and vanished from His presence. She returned to her rooms and was startled to see her Uncle standing in her room with the look of thunder on his face. “What’s wrong, Uncle?”

“Atlantis was here today and yet she refuses to tell me why. Do you know why she was here?”

“She spoke with His Majesty, your Brother.”

“About what?”

Gazing at her Uncle, Hadrese said, “I have no idea, whatever it was it has aged my Father several decades.”

Oberon knew that she was telling the truth. He knew better then to accuse Atlantis of cheating as a Life Joining prevented infidelity of all those involved. When Life Joining happened between the couples, Elves gave off pheromones that only attracted their Mates. It didn’t stop the jealousy from searing his heart and he knew he was being irrational, but he could not help it. He nodded to his niece and vanished.

Oberon appeared beside his brother. “Greeting Your Majesty,” bowing from his waist he paid homage to his Ruler.

Borlan sighed and said, “If I am your King and not your brother then you should have made an audience with Me.”

“Yes your Majesty I apologize for the interruption.”

Glaring at his twin, Borlan knew why his Brother was here. He chose to ignore him. Turning to his grandson, he said, “See him? This Elf is your Uncle Oberon. Tell him good day, Little One.”

A grin split the boy’s face and said, “’ood, ay!” and gave Oberon a toothy smile. Borlan laughed at his grandson. He stood and scooped him up and turned to his Brother, “We are busy, and you may be excused.”

Borlan disappeared into his private suite and Oberon knew better then to follow him. A scowl lit his face and he willed himself home. Anger seethed off his metaphysical bond with his Mates he was furious. “How was he to protect what was his if he didn’t know what was going on?”

Tajor sent him a message along their private communication channel, “Atlantis said that she swore to tell no one at the Kings order. You cannot expect her to break an oath made to our King! Drop your anger. Let this go, you are hurting our Mate.”

Oberon swallowed and ventured down the communication path that connected him to Atlantis. She was crying. Hurt radiated out at him. Oberon withdrew and moved out of his laboratory and down the hall to his bedroom; he slowly opened the door and looked in on the scene unfolding before him.

Tajor was sitting on the bed holding Atlantis and their daughter was sitting on her pillow hovering above them, directing a piece of cloth to wipe up her Mother’s tears. They all looked at him at the same moment and Tajor and Agarante glared at him, a shudder ran through Atlantis and she closed her eyes, leaning into Tajor.

Clearing his throat, Oberon said, “I am sorry Atlantis, I should not have taken my frustration out on you. You were obeying our King and that is more important spot in our lives then my anger. I just want to be able to protect you and our Wee One.”

Atlantis sighed into Tajor’s neck and then sent a metaphysical nod to Oberon. She felt the bed dip as he joined her on the bed. “Our daughter is in danger from an unknown source and it’s my job to protect her, my love, you must know that is more important then anything in the entire human earth.”

Sitting up Atlantis said, “Honor is more important then anything Oberon, just because you can doesn’t mean you should and you must learn this or your anger will overtake your good judgment one day and the results will be horrible.”

A throat cleared at the doorway, the three Elves froze as they realized someone had invaded their inner sanctum. “Oh don’t stand on my account.”

Relief swept through the Elves when they heard Twa’s voice. Atlantis jumped out of bed and charged across the room and dropping to her knees she said, “Twa, you are awake! How do you feel? May I heal you?”

“Atty, I feel fine and I am healed.”

Relief swept over her and she smiled, “It is so good to see you my friend, awake and no longer in pain.”

Twa’s gazed at the Little One in front of him, “Your magic is strong. You healed me.”

A gasp arose around the group crowding around Twa, Atlantis’s stared in horror at her daughter, “Argante! That was so dangerous!”

Argante smiled a beatific grin at her parent and did not respond. Her Mother did not understand. She regarded the Elemental in front of her and reached him on his communication pathway, “Go! Your work here is done; your obligation to my family is no more. Your bonds of service have been transferred to another.

Twa reached inside of himself to confirm the Wee Ones pronouncement, she was right he was now in service to their King. Bowing to the Elves in front of him, Twa said, “The bonds of my service has transferred to another, I wish blessings upon you and that the sun on your face and the wind at your back.” He disappeared from sight after pronouncing the blessing upon Atlantis and her family.

Twa appeared in front of King Borlan who was startled to see him. “Your are amongst Us again, that is good.”

Bowing to King Borlan Twa said, “I am in your service Your Majesty.”

Borlan was surprised to feel the metaphysical bonds of service snap between them and he sighed, this he did not need. Glaring at the Elemental, he thought, or perhaps he did. He pondered the Elf in front of him and nodded. “Tell my head steward that you are in my service, he will assign you rooms.”

Twa nodded and vanished from sight.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted July 2008 by Georgia Lee Jones.

Chapter 11: And So It Begins

Atlantis sat crossed legged and levitating at the level of Argante’s cradle and she watched over her sleep. She felt her mind being sucked down into an unnatural slumber. Recognizing that the Elements wanted her to see something on the metaphysical plane, Atlantis, quickly wove a protection of magic around her and her daughter and succumbed to the pull of the other realm.

Opening her metaphysical eyes, Atlantis saw nothing, but gray matter. On the outer edges of her vision she saw white sparks. Closing her eyes, she allowed a very small trickle of her magic to touch the sparks, blending it she rode the impulses to its destination, she recognized the patterns as Twa’s brainwaves and impulses and realized that she was in his mind, meeting him this was very unusual and doing it while he was so ill, could spell disaster.

Standing as still as she could she searched out the communication path she shared with Twa, and whispered, “Twa!”

Startled from concentrating on the Elves in front of him, Twa turned inward and saw the metaphysical form of a Blue Sky Elf that he knew very well. “Atlantis!” he whispered.

“So you do know who I am?”

“But of course, you are my charge. Oh, and you’re the reason why I am here and not up and about.”

Pain chased itself across the face of Atlantis and her heart dropped, “Twa! I am so sorry!”

“Ack, I surely didn’t mean that like it sounded! What I meant was that I finally figured out what your Mate and my Father were speaking of when they were talking about freewill.”

Atlantis nodded and she said, “Are you planning to rejoin us?”

“I am trying, but it’s not my time to rejoin with you on Terra Firma yet. How did you come to meet me here?”

“I was watching over Argante as she slept and I felt the pull of the Elements and so I came.”

“Who’s Argante?”

“My daughter.”

“Was she just born?” inquired Twa.

“No. She is almost a one human year old.”

“Humph!” snorted Twa. “I thought that might be the case, so time has no meaning in this place!”

“What place? This is your mind!”

“Oh, I know this is my mind, but my metaphysical body is somewhere where time does not exist or at least has slowed so much that I have no perception to the passing of time, it feels like I just got here, however, I have no idea on how to leave this place.”

“Why would you bring me here then?”

“I didn’t realize that I had until you told me you felt the pull of the Elementals. I then remembered who I was and what had happened to me. I guess I must have lost my memory after I healed you. It all just came back to me when I saw your beautiful face!”

Deep blue tinged Atlantis’s cheeks as she blushed, blinking in pleasure at Twa’s compliment.

“Do you know where a city in the human world called, Schema is located?”

“No. Why?”

“Are there only three elves left?”

“Twa these questions make no sense. We lost many of our Kinfolke to Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of, but all our clans have many Elves left to repopulate our ranks.”

“Have you ever heard of this phrase, ‘Those Who Remain in the Light?’”

“No.”

“Me either. However, you must find out what these things mean and where Schema is located.”

“Why?”

“There is a Clan of Elves that only has three remaining members and they plan to go to Schema to breed. Evidentially the humans living in Schema live up to the name of their City; they scheme and have no consciences.”

“Be aware of whom you ask to investigate this information because, these three elves want some child dead. Who that child is and to whom he or she belongs I have no idea! I cannot fathom any elf of our Clans that would wish death to a Wee One. Perhaps it’s not an Elf they are talking but a human child. ”

Atlantis nodded and said, “How do you know all of this?”

“Because wherever I am in the metaphysical realm, these three Elves gather to plan and scheme.”

“Maybe they are not elves, but other magical beings. The elves have recently become aware of whole groups of magical beings inhabiting Terra Firma so either they have recently arrived here or they have been hiding here from us for many millennia, your Father and his peers all believe they have recently arrived with the extermination of Those that Cannot Be Spoken Of.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“What races are they?”

“Dwarves, Gnomes, Gods and Goddesses of varying power, mages, and High Priestesses they are ruled by one they call King Connlon. They have a governing council called The High Lords and the highest ranking member of each group sits on this Council. Our King was asked to join and represent the Clans, this he has done.”

“Well that explains a Seeing I had, I felt magic belonging to others, but I did not recognize their magic at all.”

Atlantis stood there gazing at Twa and she whispered, “Let me heal some of your internal wounds and take some of the pain that you are suffering.”

“No!” shouted Twa.

“Why not?”

“My Father was right when he said that I should heal on my own as my choice was made of freewill and I am meant to be here for a purpose. What that is, I have no idea. Perhaps one day it will all make sense.”

“Perhaps, but today, it makes me sad that I cannot lend you assistance. Your debt to me Twa of the Elemental’s is paid in full indebted to me you no longer are, however, it is my wish to remain your friend.”

A smile formed in Twa’s mind and he grinned and said, “Then friends we are and friends we will remain for forever and a day.”

“Forever and a day,” confirmed Atlantis. As she whispered those words the magic that had brought her to this place grabbed a hold of her and tossed her back to her physical plane of existence. Opening her eyes, she gazed down into the eyes of her Wee One, who grinned at her.

Picking up her Wee One, Atlantis dispelled the magical protection that surrounded them and she went to her bedroom. She picked up a summonsing orb and sent it off to her dear friend Hadrese.

Several seconds later, Hadrese appeared. “Atlantis! How are you my dear?”

“I well thank you Hadrese! And you?”

“Great thanks, awww look at your Wee One, what a beauty she will grow into when she had gained her Maturity.”

Atlantis smiled and nodded and then looked at Hadrese and asked, “What do you hear of the outside human world?”

“Nothing too much, the petty gods ruling the lands are always fighting and bickering and using humans as their playthings. Why?”

“I need some information about a city somewhere on Terra Firma called Schema, have you heard of it?”

“No, I surely have not.”

“Try to find out for me won’t you?”

“Sure.”

“I need to speak with King Borlan as soon as possible and in a closed session; will you arrange this for me?”

“Certainly. What you want my Father has decreed that you receive. In fact, you could pop into his presence at anytime and you would not be denied.”

“Just because you can Hadrese, does not mean you should. His Majesty is still my King and due my respect and thoughtfulness.”

A thoughtful express fell across Hadrese’s face and she nodded at Atlantis and said, “Very well, Atlantis. I will make arrangements for your interview in closed session.”

“Thank you Hadrese and thanks so much for coming here today, tell my cousin I said hello please.”

Smiling a broad smile, Hadrese nodded and disappeared from sight.

Looking down at her daughter Atlantis said, “Well wasn’t that fun to see Auntie Hadrese?”

Argante grinned at her Mother and brought her flying pillow to her and vanished from her Mother’s arms and to the side Twa who was sleeping in the grove. Several seconds later Atlantis appeared beside her daughter and said, “Wee One, it is unsafe for you to travel by yourself, there are those who wish you ill health.’

Argante ignored her Mother and concentrated on healing of the Elf laying in front her. She was slowly healing him from the inside to the outer layers of his body, but her magic was not strong as it should be and she knew she could not heal him the way he had healed her Mother because it would kill her to do so and she knew she had to live no matter what.

The Closed Session

Hadrese returned to her home and sent a message to her Father’s Chancellor that Atlantis de El’a wanted a closed session with King Borlan at his convenience. A reply was immediate that the session would be granted at eventide and a transport ball would be sent by His Majesty.

Hadrese forwarded the message to Atlantis who sent a warm expression of thanks back to her. Glancing up at her Mate as he strode through the door she said, “Your cousin Atlantis sends you her best regards.”

“Oh? When?”

“A few minutes ago, she sent me a summoning orb. She wanted me to find out if there is a city on earth called Schema, have you heard of it?”

“No.”

“She also warned me to be careful of whom I asked to find out this information.”

“Did she say why?”

“No, she then asked me to arrange a closed session with my Father, which I have done for her.”

“Why did she do that when your Father has declared her immune to all Elven laws for as long as she lives?”

Hadrese gave him an ironic grin and she said, “Atty said to me, ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

Her Mate laughed loudly, barking with laughter. “Sounds just like our Atty.”

“I take it she was given her request?”

“Of course.”

***

Atlantis had her daughter on her hip and grasped the transport orb with her free hand and found herself in the private session room with His Majesty. Immediately she sent a protective magic around the room and sealing out anyone who would try to eavesdrop.

“Thank you for taking time to see my Your Majesty.”

The King nodded and waited for the female in front of him to continue.

“As you know, I would have lost both of my daughter’s if Twa had not healed me immediately upon the destructions of Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of?”

“Yes indeed,” agreed the King.

“Today I was summoned by Twa’s magic and we held a conference. He revealed to me that three of Those That Cannot Be Spoken Of survived the purge and has gone to rest in a city of Terra Firma called, Schema and evidently chosen because of the baseness of the humans living there.”

“How many Elves know of this?”

“Twa, myself and you, Your Majesty.”

The Kings eyes narrowed, “Not even my brother knows?”

“No Your Majesty he does not.”

“Good keep it that way.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

“Thank you Atlantis,” Borlan infused magic within the phrase so when his subject heard the tones she would know exactly what for which he was thanking her.

Atlantis stared back at her King and nodded and grimly smiled at him and touched the transportation orb and was returned home. She has done the right thing in asking for a closed session and His Majesty had noted it and had thanked her.

Chapter 10: Dreams or Realty?

Twa saw with clarity his charge begin to fall but grey-green hands caught her, scooping her up she was laid down on a bed. He saw himself walk over to her and lay his hands on her chest and he sent waves of healing magic into her body. He continued to heal her until he felt every welt, burn, and the flesh began dropping off his bones. Thankfully he had passed out.

Opening his metaphysical eyes, Twa felt the immense pain his physical body was in and he wondered why he was trying to overcome the pain, when succumbing to it would be so much easier. Moving his eyes he glanced around the room he was in, it was in shadows and he wondered where on the metaphysical plane he would be floating. It hurt too much to turn his head, he felt each piece of skin that he either had or was missing.

He heard whisperings, at first his keen hearing could not make out the words being spoken. Then he recognized them as an Elven dialect that had not been spoken on earth in many millennia. “The child was born today.”

Confused Twa strained to hear the rest of the conversations but there was no reply. Waves of pain shot over his body and scraped in his mind like millions shards of glass. He lost consciousness.

When he came back to his new realty Twa heard voices again, ‘He became to be this way of his own accord. He saved the life of Atlantis de El’a my Mate. Is there anything you or one of your Clan can do for him to relieve his suffering?’

‘This is the result of free will, choice he made out of love and repentance towards Atlantis. It will have to be his choice to remain with us or go to the Beyond.’

‘When you talk to him, remind him that he wants to find his brother perhaps that will give him enough incentive to find the willpower to remain with us. The pain that he is suffering is a good thing as it will remind him he is alive.’

Twa was confused by the fading voices, they both sounded so familiar, but he could not place where he had heard either of the voices before. He turned over the word freewill in his mind and wondered why he had taken on such pain willingly. The memory danced on the edge of his subconscious, he just could not grasp it.

He heard whispers again, this time there was more the one speaker, moving his metaphysical eyes to the spot where he thought the voices were coming from, he saw no physical body, but the whispers continued, “There are three of us left, we need to breed so that we will not suffer as we have suffered these past three moon cycles.”

“We need to eliminate the baby as it will be a thorn in our sides if allowed to live.”

Twa remembered the conversation from earlier a baby had been born to the chagrin of this group of elves, but what clan within his own were there only three Elves left, had his race been overrun by… by what? He could not remember.

He drifted again. Wondering if walking into the Beyond wasn’t the solution to all his problems, then he remembered the voice, “Remind him that he has a brother.” He heard a giggle. Startled he opened his eyes and wondered who had giggled, the drone of Elven voices continued, giving Twa the first clue that he had heard it in his mind, and wondered if the laugh had belonged to his brother.

He had no memories of his brother, but he had the sensation of loss, and again he wondered why he was not in the Beyond with Those Who Had Gone Before. The Elven voices became ugly again, “Where on this cursed planet can we hide from the wrath of Those Who Remain in the Light?”

Having never heard that term before Twa forced himself to concentrate on the conversation at hand.

“It has to be a place of chaos and filled with people who think they are above others, humans who would betray each others for no real reason but because they can.”

“Is there a place on this planet that has such humans in abundance?”

“Yes, the City of Schema.”

Silence descended on the group. Twa was wondering where the City of Schema was on Terra Firma. He had lived long on this planet and had never heard of such a place, but the connotation from the name of the city indicated that the humans living there were Schemers. That did not bode well for the human race.

Overwhelmed by a wave of pain so fierce that he fainted Twa knew nothing more. How long he had remained unconscious, Twa didn't know. He became aware of whispering again; this time he felt a cool wind on his body relieving him of some of the pain. The whispering seemed to be female this time, “Twa, please live. I need you and so does my daughter Argante. Please Twa wake up!”

Again, he was confused, who was this Elven female and who was Argante? Memories flickered at the back of his mind and he could not capture them long enough to bring them into focus. The gentle breeze blew over his skin easing his discomfort and he slept.

Roiling black clouds were on the horizon and Twa was standing on the side of an emerald green hill with two other beings. He could taste their magic so he knew that they were not human but he could not tell to which race of non-humans they belonged, he just knew that they were upset and they were watching something, turning his metaphysical eyes to the bottom of the hill he saw a circle of stones. He then saw large stones appearing from nowhere, but then he saw the device that was lowering the stones to the ground.

Blinking rapidly Twa heard the Elven voices again, “Kill anyone close to this child then the child will be ripe pickings.”

Scowling, Twa wondered why these horrid Elves wouldn’t just go away and shut their mouths. Yawning, Twa wanted to tell them to leave him alone, but it hurt too much to talk, his tongue felt like ash in his mouth and he wondered if he was burned from the inside out.

He was so thirsty. He could not remember the last time he had a soothing drink of water. Magically, it seemed, water was being dribbled down his aching throat. He wanted to smile in sheer joy, but it hurt too much to move his lips that much. He heard a giggle and again wondered to whom it belonged.

Twa drifted again he heard voices bombarding him and they blended into one as he slept.

Atlantis followed the giggles of her daughter to the grove where Twa was recuperating. She watched as a glass magically appeared above Twa’s lips dripping onto his lips and disappearing down his throat.

After a while, the glass emptied and disappeared and Argante laughed again in great delight and clapped her hands. Atlantis felt a healing wind gently blowing over Twa.

Looking down at her daughter who was perched on a pillow in the middle of the air Atlantis asked, “How did you know he was thirsty?”

The Wee One glanced up at her Mother and using pictures thought the reply, “I could feel it.”

Atlantis nodded unsurprised by the remark form her Wee One. She had just learned to sit up three months ago and had taken to flying all over the place on her pillow. Reaching down she picked up Argante and kissed her brow, “Now Little One it's time to eat.”

Argante looked at Atlantis and gave her a cherubic smile, crinkling the blue skin at the ends of her upturned eyes. Tinkling laughter trailed the Elves into their home.

Chills went up and down Atlantis’s spine as she entered their home, evil lurked near them. Sending out her magic, Atlantis checked the binding sphere and there were no holes in it. She checked to see if anyone was near their home and nothing but animals came up in the scan.

Foreboding filled her heart and she slammed the door to the house and placed magical guards around the doors and all the windows.

© All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted January 2008 by Georgia Lee Jones.